When Google announced that AI Mode was “available to the public,” I assumed they meant... well, the public.

Turns out, no. It’s only available if you’re logged in.

Now, maybe you're thinking—

"Duh! Of course you have to be logged in."

And sure, that’s true—if you’re the type who happily gulps down the digital Kool-Aid without asking what’s in the sweetener. Bless your trusting little heart. (Wanna buy a widget you don't need?)

But for those of us with, oh I don’t know—healthy skepticism toward trillion-dollar data hoarders—that “log-in required” detail hits a little differently.

So I did what any privacy-conscious, curiosity-driven SEO professional with three burner accounts would do: I logged in, launched Gemini, and started asking questions.

And let’s just say... the answers were candid, creepy, and cloaked in the usual Silicon Valley spin. If you don’t have time to wade through the full transcript, here's the short version. (But honestly? The long version is where the real weirdness lives.)

TL;DR – The Interview

Why You Have to Be Logged In to Use Google's AI Mode—and Why That Might Be a Problem

Google’s new AI Mode in search (part of AI Overviews) requires you to be logged in. Why? Three main reasons:

• Personalization – Google uses your history, preferences, and habits to tailor responses. Helpful? Sometimes. Creepy echo chamber? Also yes.
• Data & Control – Login lets Google gather precise feedback to tra...